Head Of Egypt’s Most
Prestigious Islamic Institution Dies.
The
head of Egypt's most prestigious seat of Islamic learning Al
Azhar, Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, has died of a heart attack
during a visit to Saudi Arabia.
Adviser to the Sheikh, Abdullah el-Naggar said the death of the
81-year-old Tantawi was a surprise, as he was in excellent shape
before leaving for Saudi Arabia.
Tantawi's deputy, Mohamed Wasel, is expected to temporarily take
over leading the institution until the Egyptian president
appoints a new head for the body.
Al Azhar, which runs schools, universities and other educational
institutions across Egypt, receives most of its funding from the
state.
When he was appointed in 1996, Tantawi was viewed as having
relatively liberal views on issues such as women's rights but
had been criticised by some for toeing the government's line.
REUTERS/WILLIAMS/YINKA
